The Mayor - A body of the City of Vienna

The Mayor is elected by the City Council, with a term of office equivalent to the City Council’s legislative period. The Mayor remains in office until a successor has been elected. The Mayor need not be a member of the City Council but must be eligible for it. The Mayor is officially represented by the Vice Mayors, who are elected by the City Council.

Functions and tasks

• In her/his function as Provincial Governor, the Mayor also presides over the provincial government (- in line with Vienna's dual function as a federal province and a municipality).
• The Mayor is the head of the City Administration and senior to all
  • Executive City Councillors
  • district chairpersons and
  • employees of the City Administration.
• The Mayor convenes City Council sessions and City Senate meetings. She/He has a seat in all committees, subcommittees and commissions of the City Council, and chairs the meetings of the City Senate.
• As Provincial Governor she/he carries out all tasks assigned to her/him by the Federal Constitution - she/he is assisted in this task by the Office of the Provincial Government, i.e. the City Administration.
• The Mayor is also responsible for the municipality’s so-called "delegated sphere of competence", e.g. for all tasks that are delegated to the municipality by federal or provincial law and must be performed in accordance with federal or provincial directions.
• With the consent of the City Council, the Mayor decrees the Rules of Procedure and the Allocation of Competencies of the City Administration

It should be noted that the Mayor, just like the City Senate, has "emergency compe-tence" in certain cases. She/he also has comprehensive cancellation and arrogation rights (pursuant to sec 92 and 93 of the Vienna City Statutes).

Emergency competence

The term "emergency competence" refers to the right to take a decision instead of the body that has primary decision competence in a given matter if the urgency of the situation so requires, i.e. if substantial reasons make it impossible to wait for this body to decide.

Arrogation right

This term refers to the right to arrogate documents and administrative cases , i.e. to assume responsibility for these cases and for performing the related tasks.

Cancellation right

The term "cancellation right" means that a body is entitled or - if substantial reasons so require – obliged to cancel the implementation of a decision taken by another (collegial) body in order to allow for a new decision to be taken in the same matter.